Indian Government Clarifies That Crypto Tax Cut to 0.1% Was a “Typo”

Crypto-killer taxes in India stays intact after officials acknowledge their mistake.

A considerably small detail can cause an avalanche effect. After the media started reporting that India cut a 1% TDS (tax deducted at source) on virtual digital assets to 0.1%, the government stood up to say that the tax continues to be the same. Apparently, the Income Tax Department had a typo on their website. The department rectified the mistake on Wednesday.

“Some media reports have come to the notice of CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes), claiming that the rate of TDS on Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) has been reduced to 0.1%. It is hereby clarified that there is no change in the rate of TDS on VDA, which continues to be 1%,” stated the government office on Twitter.

Harsh Crypto Taxation Policy in India

The taxes and the Indian Government’s complicated approach to cryptocurrencies have strongly affected the second biggest world crypto market. Since April 1, when the new taxation policy kicked in, the trading volumes on India’s major cryptocurrency exchanges slumped to their lowest in years.

According to the Crebaco report, U.S. dollar trading volume dropped by 72% on WazirX, 59% on ZebPay, 52% on CoinDCX, and 41% on BitBns in April. Cryptocurrency traders are now entitled to a 30% flat tax on all crypto-related income. Beginning July 1, a 1% tax deducted at source will be applicable on every cryptocurrency transaction above Rs. 10,000 (about US$129).

A 1% TDS on most transactions is expected to drain out liquidity from the market, causing a further drop in trade volumes. Smaller exchanges, which depend heavily on volumes of transactions, are likely to be hurt the most after July 1, causing some of them to even close.

It created uproar in the crypto community and according to experts, can cause a crypto exodus. Nischal Shetty, the founder of WazirX, said on Twitter:

“Countries that do not acknowledge tech innovation will experience massive brain drain. We’re living in a world where location is irrelevant. Talent will go where it is welcomed!”

The Reserve Bank of India has been persistently against cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, saying “there is no underlying value for such instruments which are essentially speculative in nature.” RBI is working to introduce a digital version of the fiat rupee for better currency management, reducing settlement risk in the system.

As India and the crypto community anticipate a consultation paper on cryptocurrencies prepared by the Government, Reserve Bank Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar said to the Economic Times, that the soon-to-be-introduced central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) can “kill” whatever little case that exists for private virtual currencies like Bitcoin.

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Author
Paulina Okunyte

Paulina is a writer, reporter, and digital craftswoman. Her educational background extends from anthropology to IT & multimedia. She has experience working with tech startups, as well as mastering the craft of journalism. At DailyCoin, Paulina focuses on the world of metaverses, NFT marketplaces, NFT art, and blockchains backing NFT technology.